Providing the best advice

Direction: WO1 Bill Whitburn observes Iraqi soldiers during their recruit training at the Kirkush Military Training Base.

Advice: WO1 Richard Polson talks with Iraqi instructors. Photos by Flt-Lt Fiona Harris

By Flt-Lt Fiona Harris

SITTING behind his desk, the commander of 1 Bn, Iraqi Training Bde, listens astutely as WO1s Richard Polson and Bill Whitburn brief him on how his battalion’s recruit course is progressing.

As the only two Australians in the eastern Iraqi province of Kirkush, the WO1s are etching their names in history books as senior military advisers to the commanders of 1 and 2 Bns, Iraqi Training Bde.

CO 1 Bn Lt-Col Imad Jabar Hassan, said he was proud to have the Australians supporting the Iraqi Army.

“Their qualifications and skills are of the highest I have seen and they are very keen to do their job as advisers. They are working with the Iraqi Army as part of the team. They are part of our family,” Lt-Col Hassan said.

“Sometimes we don’t see eye-to-eye and we get into intense conversations but it is always for the betterment of the battalion. These guys are professional and willing to put their point across and they are recording their place in history by helping get the Iraqi Army on its feet.”

WO1s Polson and Whitburn’s role is to advise the command structure of the Iraqi Army on its taskings and responsibilities.

“Every morning we go to a conference with the CO and we find out what his issues are so that we can troubleshoot for him,” WO1 Whitburn said.

“We don’t make his decisions for him, we give him food for thought so we can then put in a process and plan that he is comfortable with and nine times out of 10 he will adopt the plan that we recommend and it gives us a warm feeling that we are welcome.”

Assisting with the training of the Iraqi NCOs is the American Advisory Support Teams (AST). The ASTs make sure that the training the Iraqi trainers are delivering is in line with the Training Management Packages.

“The ASTs are making sure that the Iraqi instructors are teaching every subject in the correct method and in the manner it should be taught,” WO1 Whitburn said.

“We then go and observe the training, whether it be theory or practical, to make sure that we can assist if there is something that is not being taught correctly.”

The two advisers have been in country since just before Christmas and are excited about the opportunity they have been presented with.

WO1 Polson has been pushing for an operational deployment for nearly 20 years. He said he was probably one of the rare WO1s who had not been on operations.

“This is my first operational deployment and to be thrown into this mix where I am responsible for assisting in training the Iraqi Defence Force is a great honour,” he said.

“I have absolutely loved my time here so far.

“I’ve always enjoyed training and most of my time in the Army has been spent in training but this has been a new challenge because I now have to train myself as well as train the Iraqis. I have to train myself to talk in small phases because I have got to speak through an interpreter.”

WO1 Whitburn, who has previously deployed as part of the Multi-National Forces and Observers in Sinai in Egypt in 2002, said that the Iraq deployment had been a very rewarding one.

“It gives me a good feeling that we are here to do a job – to make sure that the Iraqis are prepared for the next step when the coalition leaves and they have to take responsibility for their own training and development,” he said.

Working alongside the Iraqis can be challenging at times.

“The biggest obstacle that we have had to overcome is understanding the Iraqis have their own way of doing things,” WO1 Polson said.

“We expect things to happen automatically – they don’t – everything takes time.”

The Iraqis may have a more laid back attitude to training than the Australians are used to, but it is clear that the Jundis (Iraqi soldiers) take the training very seriously.

“Everything they do, they know that in six or seven weeks they could be in the front lines putting everything they have learned into practice,” WO1 Polson said.

He said Iraqi and Australian soldiers had much in common.

“They both have the same concerns – their pay, their food, their allowances, and a warm bed; keep them happy in that area and they’re just normal soldiers who just want to get in and do the job,” he said.

The two Australians have a fantastic reputation within the camp, which extends back to the RSMs who came before them.

“It doesn’t matter who you talk to here, the Australians have always had a good reputation,” WO1 Polson said.